Area Lutheran school students gather in Cole Camp for cultural fair

About 200 students from three area Lutheran schools celebrated national Lutheran Schools Week by attending a multicultural fair Wednesday.

The event was hosted by the Lutheran School Association in Cole Camp.

Principal Larry Andersen organized the fair, which featured indoor and outdoor activities, informational speakers and crafts.

“We have different cultures and different ways but we have the same Lord,” Andersen said.

Students from St. Paul’s Lutheran in Sedalia, St. Paul Lutheran in Stover and the Cole Camp school made their way through six stations learning about the cultures and traditions of German, Irish and Hispanic countries.

Storm Walker, of Cole Camp, taught small groups about Irish traditions and history.

“It’s fun,” Walker said.

He told the younger students fairy tales of giants and leprechauns and showed older students books about Ireland.

“Kids get to see something a little different and talk with people who have a little different perspective,” Walker said.

After learning about the Irish culture, students made three-leaf clovers decorated with symbols representing the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Hannah May, 10, a fifth-grade student at St. Paul’s in Sedalia, worked on making a God’s eye or Ojo de Dios at the Hispanic craft table.

“It’s for the kids to keep them in their room,” May said.

The Mexican craft is a symbol of how old a child is. Hannah wove her red, white, yellow and green yarn around two Popsicle sticks. Each color of yarn represents another year of life for children.

Hannah was excited to make her way to the German station though, because she has some German heritage in her family.

“It’s pretty cool,” she said of the fair.

Kristen Womble, 12, a sixth-grade student at St. Paul’s in Sedalia, said she could not wait to go home and make a bigger God’s eye.

“I think it’s really pretty,” Kristen said.

At the German station, Womble learned how to how to count to five in German and shouted the numbers with fellow students.

Students attended a worship service Wednesday morning and watched a show from the Amigos de Cristo youth worship and puppet group.

Andersen plans to host a similar event next year during Lutheran Schools Week.

Victoria Eckhoff, 15, a seventh-grade student at the Lutheran School Association, said she enjoyed every part of the day.

“I’m hoping that they can do it next year, too,” Victoria said.